Groton education board extends interim superintendent's contract

Groton — The Board of Education extended the contract of the interim superintendent to Sept. 28 on Monday night.

Randall Collins’ contract was set to expire Friday. He has held the post since Superintendent of Schools Paul Kadri was placed on paid administrative leave in May.

Collins said after the meeting he will be traveling for several days each week in October because of consulting work he previously committed to, and he advised the board to find someone else past September.

The board did not discuss the investigation into Kadri, who was put on paid leave pending an inquiry into his “interactions with and treatment of district employees.” The investigation is an agenda item for Thursday’s board meeting. The board discussed Collins’ contract in executive session during a special meeting. Collins was invited to stay in the non-public session, held at the school administration building.

Once the board returned to open session, the members approved the extension 6 to 1. Shelley Gardner, who voted no, said she did not have a problem with Collins staying, but she took issue with some of the financial stipulations in the contract.

Collins, who said he is enjoying his time in Groton, is also working with District Administration magazine in Norwalk.

“I do some consulting, which is what I will do beyond Groton, and I can’t give it up,” he said.

Kadri has served as the town’s superintendent since 2008. The school year begins Wednesday.